70th Anniversary: “Ikot Ekpene and the Akpabio magic”
“The people that walked in the darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them had the light shinned” (Isaiah 9:2)
The above scripture is apt for Ikot Ekpene and the Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio. Ikot Ekpene is the cradle of Local Government administration in Nigeria.
In 1950, the colonial masters in an attempt to bring the colonial administration closer to the people, conceived the idea of replicating a tier of government that was already working in England to their conquered territory. This tier was the Local Government system. That year, Chief Robert Udoka Umoinyang, one of the shining lights in Ikot Ekpene received an award of scholarship from the British Colonial Government to undergo a six month special training programme in Local government Administration at Nigeria’s premier University, the University of Ibadan (UI) The training was to prepare Chief Umoinyang to mount the saddle of leadership at the third tier in 1951.
On Wednesday, April 11th 1951 the then British District Officer (D.O.), Col. E. C. Alderton stepped down and swore in Late Chief Robert Udoka Umoinyang as Chairman of the experimental Local Government system. Hence, Chief Umoinyang became the first blackman or African to become a Local Government Council boss. Moreso, by providence, Ikot Ekpene was chosen as a pilot administrative unit to test run the new system by colonial masters.
A public Affairs analyst, Keresifon Essien captured the historic event thus: “The high Chief actually made a unique history on Wednesday April 11, 1951 when he became the first black man or African to become a local Government boss not only in Nigeria but also British West African Colonial territories…
Mr. Bassey Okoro and Mr. Moses Inyang were appointed Council Secretary and treasurer respectively to work with UmoInyang. Other officials in the administration of the Council were mostly native chiefs from various villages in Ikot Ekpene including: Hon. Chief Wilfred Uko Enin, a councillor; Chief Nwankwo Udom Essien from Ikot Obong Edong; Chief Akpan Essien Etefia from Utu; Chief Nyoyoko from Adiasim and Chief Udoakai from Ikot Ekpene village, Chief Ekanem Uboh from Nsiak, etc…”
Armed with the training in native administration and undying passion to make a mark, it did not take Chief Umoinyang long to make Ikot Ekpene truly the first not only in local administration but in infrastructural development. Between 1951 and 1956. The late Chief Umoinyang ensured that the city had the trappings of an urban area bustling with electricity, pipe borne water, quality roads, hospital, a prison yard and other infrastructure. Thus, Ikot Ekpene became an economic nerve centre which attracted may people from various localities to reside and do business. Paying tribute to the late local government icon, Essien (2012) collaborated the above fact when he averred:
“He also championed the course of making Ikot Ekpene the first in the whole of the geographical area now known as Akwa Ibom State to be connected to the national grid of electricity and portable drinking water, … prison, roads as well as a befitting library (one storey building) in the colonial days… He went further to state that: “… Ikot Ekpene was one of the first two towns with government owned General Hospitals in the mainland part of the old Calabar province, which is now Akwa Ibom State. Ikot Abasi was the other town with Government General Hospital. But there were no government hospital of any description at Eket and Abak Districts, while Uyo and Itu were served by some mission hospitals”.
The above marked the glory days for Ikot Ekpene; the ancient city that has brought fame and glory to Nigeria and Africa as a result of its cultural endowment manifested in arts and crafts. This explains how Ikot Ekpene gained the pseudonym, “Raffia City”. It is instructive to note that Ikot Ekpene is the home of lawyer’s wig. 80% of lawyer’s wigs used in Nigeria are manufactured locally in Ikot Ekpene. However, the success recorded in Ikot Ekpene the local government system was duplicated in other places.
Ikot Ekpene and the Civil War Experience:
War, they say does not determine who is right but who is left. Ikot Ekpene had its share of unpalatable civil war experience between 1967 and 1970. It is reported to have been the theatre for the regrettable war which claimed many lives. History has it that the area exchanged hands between the Nigerian and Biafran troops for about five times. This bloody experience consumed the lives of many illustrious indigenes of Ikot Ekpene besides destroying many structures and infrastructure in the area. The site of the present Plaza had become the battle field where blood of many were shed. It is indeed a sad commentary that Ikot Ekpene had no reparation from the Federal Government after the civil war even when some areas that were not so affected received some form of reparation from the government at the centre.
Ikot Ekpene and the 1976 Local Government Reforms:
The General Olusegun Obasanjo military regime promulgated the local government administration law in 1976 to make the third tier of government more functional to meet the needs of the grassroots. The following year, the military government began the process of creating local government councils backed by a military decree. Ikot Ekpene retained it status, perhaps to take the lead as the pilot local government in the country. Yet, this was not to be as the council was more of a crippled giant. Successive military regimes paid no attention to the premier local government and things began to fall apart. Public infrastructure decayed, roads were unmotorable, the clerk’s quarters (colonial administrative estate) became a shadow of its former self. And so, Ikot Ekpene gradually lost its shine and glory. Its economy deteriorated and companies folded up.
Over the years, this premier local government area has survived on past glory. It had practically no federal government presence except for the doomed walls of the now demolished prisons then situated in the heart of the city.
Until now, the Ikot Ekpene story has been that of a city without amenities and industries to employ the indigenes but for the motor garage said to be the “Exxon Mobil of Ikot Ekpene”.
The roads were death traps. These appalling conditions affected the economic life of the people, resulting in total isolation and incapacitation. Leaders of the area fared no better. Their emergence was usually regarded as a golden opportunity for personal enrichment at the people’s expense.
The above scenario resulted in spiritual initiatives which caused indigenes and residents to pray ceaselessly for a messiah who would be sensitive to their plight; a leader who believed in the economic and social advancement of the area.
One of such was the prophetic declaration of His Royal Majesty, Okuku Engineer Assiak on 4th day of October 2004. That day was his coronation as Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene. On that occasion, Okuku Assiak raised the hand of the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio and pronounced him the “Ubok Udom Ikot Ekpene”, meaning the right hand of the people.
The prophecy soon manifested when the commissioner became the state Governor, three years later, in 2007. Shortly after his swearing in, Chief Akpabio began his determined development “with anger”, to transform the lives of the people.
On Saturday, 3rd November 2007, the governor came to town for official flagging off of Ikot Ekpene urban roads construction. That day, Chief Godswill Akpabio recalled his bike riding days as a young boy on the tarred roads round the city. Chief Akpabio must have counted himself a lucky man to have been born at a time when there were tarred roads in the city. For many new-age kids, the story of a beautiful and smooth Ikot Ekpene was simply the stuff of antiquated history. We were born to pot hole filled roads ringed with failed portions, stagnant water and broken asphalt which made driving a tricky act.
The Governor’s announcement of the reconstruction of 26 urban roads to give the city a facelift, was enough to bring great relief to many. That day, Okuku A.J.E. Assiak began to dream. He said, “I want somebody to convince me that it is real… after so many years of sorrow, and neglect, we have been remembered”. Understandably, the Paramount Ruler’s reaction was not unconnected with the fact that successive governments had played politics with the issue of road repair for decades.
Today, Ikot Ekpene boasts of quality nylon paved roads. Nearly all the commercial banks in the country have set up shop in the city. The unsightly prison has been relocated after the Akpabio-led administration has taken it upon itself to complete the long abandoned prison facility at Abiakpo Edem Idim. Now, a 4 star Hotel, Ikot Ekpene Sheraton Hotel rises on the ruins of the prison.
The Akwa Ibom state Polytechnic in Ikot Osurua endured years of abandonment with rottening infrastructure until the necessary right hand came to re-brand the institution with smooth roads and other structures to make it a centre of excellence. This development has been replicated in primary and secondary schools through the Inter Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.
There is no gainsaying that Ikot Ekpene has never had it so good in terms of political appointments. There are two prominent members of the state Executive council from Ikot Ekpene, Chairmen and members of Boards and Commissions at Federal and state levels.
Chief Akpabio has shepherded Ikot Ekpene from political backwardness to a renewed relevance in state and national spheres. You could say that Godswill Akpabio is the real right hand man of Ikot Ekpene, the emancipator of the people; the messiah that has the magic that has turned round the fortunes of the Raffia city.
Ikot Ekpene, the historical anvil that has withstood many years of deprivation in the hands of colonialists, military juntas and indigenes with the mandates of the people, has today become a heaven of glory, a city no more forsaken. Thanks to Chief Godswill Akpabio. The Chief Akpabio magic is for real.
